Cheaper Health Care: Testimonials from 6 Medical Tourists

These women traveled the world for cheaper surgery

Why I went abroad: "I had no other choice. I desperately needed knee surgery, and I didn't have the insurance to pay for it." (Read her story here.)

Best part: "Getting my knee fixed for good. Even if I have insurance in the future, I'd rather go abroad for an operation. The hospital staff cares about the patient, not just the payment source."

Worst part: "When I first saw the EKG machine, I thought, What have I done?  it looked seriously out-of-date. But in the operating room, everything was state-of-the-art, so I stopped worrying. Also, some of the aides didn't speak English. But we learned to communicate using hand gestures."

My advice: "Before you go, ask your doctor how long he recommends staying after surgery. Then plan to stick around for a few days longer, so you can heal properly before flying."

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